U.S. patent number 6,662,847 [Application Number 10/305,888] was granted by the patent office on 2003-12-16 for ridge fold divider curtain.
This patent grant is currently assigned to American Sports International. Invention is credited to Steven R. Johnson, Timothy D. Mobley, Neal C. Squibb.
United States Patent |
6,662,847 |
Squibb , et al. |
December 16, 2003 |
Ridge fold divider curtain
Abstract
The present invention provides a divider curtain for attachment
to a non-linear superstructure. The divider curtain includes a
screen having an upper end and lower end. The upper end is adapted
to engage the non-linear superstructure and to conform to the shape
of the non-linear superstructure. The lower end has a straight
horizontal edge when the screen is in a lowered position. The lower
end is adapted to conform to the shape of the non-linear
superstructure when the screen is in a raised position.
Inventors: |
Squibb; Neal C. (Scranton,
IA), Mobley; Timothy D. (Jefferson, IA), Johnson; Steven
R. (Paton, IA) |
Assignee: |
American Sports International
(Jefferson, IA)
|
Family
ID: |
29711804 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/305,888 |
Filed: |
November 27, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/84.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B
9/0692 (20130101); E06B 9/262 (20130101); E06B
2009/2622 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47H
21/00 (20060101); A47H 5/00 (20060101); A47H
5/14 (20060101); E06B 9/06 (20060101); E06B
009/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;160/84.01,84.02,84.04,84.07,331,345,1,7 ;47/17 ;52/63 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Purol; David
Claims
We claim:
1. A divider curtain for attachment to a non-linear superstructure,
comprising: a screen having an upper end and lower end, the upper
end is adapted to engage the non-linear superstructure and to
conform to the shape thereof, the lower end having a straight
horizontal edge when the screen is in a lowered position; and
wherein the lower end is adapted to conform to the non-linear shape
of the superstructure when the screen is in a raised position;
wherein the screen has a lateral dimension and a longitudinal
dimension; and wherein the screen stretches an equal amount in the
lateral and longitudinal dimensions when the screen is fully
raised.
2. The divider curtain of claim 1, wherein the screen is composed
of a non-stretchable material.
3. The divider curtain of claim 1, wherein the screen is adapted to
contract in a lateral dimension as the screen is raised in a
longitudinal dimension.
4. The divider curtain of claim 1, wherein the non-linear
superstructure includes an inverted V-shaped configuration.
5. A divider curtain for attachment to a non-linear superstructure,
comprising: a plurality of trolleys having an upper portion and a
lower portion, the upper portion adapted to be movably operatively
associated with the non-linear superstructure; a screen having an
upper end and lower end, the upper end is adapted to conform to the
shape of the non-linear superstructure, the lower end having a
straight horizontal edge when the screen is in a lowered position,
and wherein the screen upper end is attached to the lower portions
of the trolleys; and wherein the lower end is adapted to conform to
the shape of the non-linear superstructure when the screen is in a
raised position.
6. The divider curtain of claim 5, wherein the trolleys are adapted
to move in a lateral dimension as the screen is raised to allow the
screen to contract in the lateral dimension as the screen is raised
in a longitudinal dimension.
7. The divider curtain of claim 5, wherein the non-linear
superstructure includes an inverted V-shaped configuration.
8. A divider curtain for attachment to a V-shaped superstructure,
comprising: a track adapted to engage the V-shaped superstructure
and to conform to the shape of the V-shaped superstructure; a
plurality of trolleys having an upper portion and a lower portion,
the upper portion being movably engaged with the track; a screen
having an upper end and lower end, the upper end is adapted to
conform to the shape of the V-shaped superstructure, the lower end
having a straight horizontal edge when the screen is in a lowered
position, and wherein the upper end is attached to the lower
portions of the trolleys; and wherein the lower end is adapted to
conform to the shape of the V-shaped superstructure when the screen
is in a raised position.
9. The divider curtain of claim 8, wherein the trolleys are adapted
to move along the track as the screen is raised to allow the screen
to contract in a lateral dimension as the screen is raised in a
longitudinal dimension.
10. The divider curtain of claim 8, wherein the track has an upper
surface, a lower surface, a proximal end, a distal end, and a mid
point between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the upper
surface is adapted to engage the V-shaped superstructure, the lower
surface has an elongated opening for receiving the trolleys, and
the proximal and distal ends slope downwardly from the mid
point.
11. The divider curtain of claim 10, wherein the lower end of the
screen has a proximal tip, a distal tip, and an inner point between
the proximal and distal tips, and wherein the inner point raises a
greater distance than the proximal and distal tips; and wherein the
trolleys are adapted to move toward the track midpoint as the
screen is raised.
12. The divider curtain of claim 11, wherein a distance between the
screen inner point and the track mid point, a distance between
screen distal tip and the track lower surface, and a distance
between proximal tip of the screen and the lower surface of the
track are all equal, when the screen is fully raised.
13. The divider curtain of claim 8, further comprising a wench
operatively associated with the screen to raise and lower the
screen, wherein the wench includes a drum assembly having a
plurality of drum bracket of varying size.
14. The divider curtain of claim 13, wherein a plurality of cords
are provided, a single cord being associated with a single drum
bracket, each cord being operatively associated with the screen to
raise and lower the screen when the wench is operated.
15. The divider curtain of claim 13, further comprising a plurality
of pulley assemblies engaging the upper surface of the track to the
V-shaped superstructure, wherein each pulley assembly includes at
least one pulley associated with one cord, and wherein each cord
extends from the wench over one pulley and is associated with the
screen.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is often desired to provide curtains within rooms for dividing
the room into more than one section. When the ceiling
superstructure of the room has a linear or flat shape the curtain
is of a relatively strait forward design.
Often, however, the room will have a ceiling superstructure of
non-linear shape, such as a ridge. Conventional curtains when
provided for such a room fail to conform to the shape of the
ceiling superstructure and are thus not space efficient.
Therefore, a principal object of this invention is to provide a
divider curtain having a screen, for conforming to the shape of the
superstructure when the screen is in a raised position.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the
art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a divider curtain for attachment to
a non-linear superstructure. The divider curtain includes a screen
having an upper end and lower end. The upper end is adapted to
engage the non-linear superstructure and to conform to the shape of
the non-linear superstructure. The lower end has a straight
horizontal edge when the screen is in a lowered position. The lower
end is adapted to conform to the shape of the non-linear
superstructure when the screen is in a raised position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a view of the divider curtain of this invention in a
fully extended position;
FIG. 2 is a view of the divider curtain of this invention in a
fully raised position;
FIG. 3 is a partial schematic view of the device of this invention
taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a pulley assembly of the
invention; and
FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a track and trolley of the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to FIG. 1, the present invention provides a divider
curtain 10 for attachment to a non-linear superstructure 12. The
non-linear superstructure 12 shown is an inverted V-shaped
configuration; however, it will be understood that divider curtain
10 is adaptable to operate with other non-linear superstructure 12
configurations. The divider curtain includes a track 14 adapted to
engage the superstructure 12, a plurality of trolleys 16 movably
engaged with the track 14, and a screen 18 attached to the trolleys
16. The screen 18 is adapted to conform to the shape of the
superstructure 12 when the screen 18 is in a raised position.
The track 14 is adapted to engage the superstructure 12 and to
conform to the shape of the superstructure 12. The track 14 has an
upper surface 20, a lower surface 22, a proximal end 24, a distal
end 26, and a mid point 28 between the proximal and distal ends 24
and 26. The proximal and distal ends 24 and 26 slope downwardly
from the mid point 28.
The upper surface 20 is adapted to engage the superstructure 12.
For this purpose, a plurality of hangers 29 are provided to attach
to the track 14 for engaging the track to the superstructure
12.
With reference to FIG. 5, the lower surface 22 has an elongated
opening 30 for movably receiving the trolleys 16. An end stop 32 is
provided to removably close the proximal and distal ends 24 and 26,
and to secure the trolleys 16 within the track 14.
The plurality of trolleys 16 have an upper portion 34 and a lower
portion 36. The upper portion 34 is movably engaged with the track
14. The lower portion 36 is a fastener for removably securing the
trolley 16 to the screen 18.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, the trolleys 16 are adapted to
move along the track 14 as the screen 18 is raised to allow the
screen 18 to contract in a lateral dimension as the screen 18 is
raised in a longitudinal dimension.
With reference to FIG. 1, the screen 18 has an upper end 38 and a
lower end 40. The upper end 38 is adapted to conform to the shape
of the superstructure 12. The upper end 38 is attached to the lower
portions 36 of the trolleys 16 by a plurality of top grommets 42 in
screen 18.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower end 40 of screen 18 has
a straight horizontal edge when the screen 18 is in a lowered
position, and is adapted to conform to the shape of the
superstructure 12 when the screen 18 is in a raised position.
The lower end 40 of the screen 18 has a proximal tip 44, a distal
tip 46, and an inner point 48 between the proximal and distal tips
44 and 46. When the screen 18 is raised, the inner point 48 raises
a greater distance than the proximal and distal tips 44 and 46. The
trolleys 16 are adapted to move toward the midpoint 28 of the track
14 as the screen 18 is raised, allowing the lower end 40 of the
screen 18 to fully compress and conform to the shape of the
superstructure 12. Thus, a distance between screen proximal tip 44
and the track lower surface 22, a distance between screen distal
tip 46 and the track lower surface 22, and a distance between the
screen inner point 48 and the track mid point 28 are all
approximately equal when the screen 18 is fully raised.
It will be understood that the screen 18 can be composed of various
material with differing physical properties. Where the screen 18 is
composed of a stretchable material, the screen 18 will stretch an
equal amount in the lateral and longitudinal dimensions when the
screen 18 is raised to conform to the shape of the superstructure
12. Where the screen 18 is composed of a non-stretchable material,
the screen 18 can still be raised to conform to the shape of the
superstructure 12 due to the lateral movement allowed for by the
trolleys 16.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the present invention also
provides a wench 50, a plurality of cords 52, and a plurality of
pulley assemblies 54. The wench 50 is operatively associated with
the screen 18 to raise and lower the screen 18. The plurality of
cords 52 are operatively associated between the screen 18 and the
wench 50, so that the cords raise the screen 18 when the wench 50
is activated. The plurality of pulley assemblies 54 engage upper
surface 20 of the track 18 to the superstructure 12 and direct the
movement of the cords 52 between the screen 18 and the wench
50.
The wench 50 includes a drum assembly 58 having a plurality of drum
brackets 60 of varying size. A single cord 52 is associated with a
single drum bracket 60. The drum brackets 60 are sized so that a
cord 52 that raises the greatest distance is associated with a drum
bracket 60 of the greatest diameter, while a cord 52 that raises
the least distance is associated with a drum bracket 60 of the
least diameter.
With reference to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, each pulley assembly 54
includes a bracket 62 securing the pulley assembly 54 to the
superstructure 12, a snaplink 64 engaging the pulley assembly 54 to
the track 16, and a plurality of pulleys 66 where each pulley
directs a single cord 52 from the wench 50 over the pulley 66 and
to the screen 18.
The cords 52 are strung over the pulleys 66 in a step like manner.
The first cord 68 is strung over the first pulley assembly 70 and
down to the screen 18, while the second cord 72 is strung over the
first pulley assembly 70 to the second pulley assembly 74 and down
to the screen. In each instance, the cords 52 descend to the screen
18 over the pulley 66 located closest to a proximal end 76 of each
pulley assembly 54. The second pulley assembly 74 receives one less
cord 52 than the first pulley assembly 70. Accordingly, the second
pulley assembly 74 includes a spacer 78 in place of one of the
plurality of pulleys 66.
As the cords 52 descend form the pulleys 66, they are strung
through vertical grommet rows 80 in the screen 18 and attached to a
hinged batten 82 located in the lower end 40 of screen 18. When the
screen 18 is in the lowered position, the hinged batten 82 acts to
straiten and weigh down the lower end 40. When the screen is raised
the hinged batten 82 flexes to conform the lower end 40 to the
shape of the superstructure.
It is therefore seen that the present invention provides a divider
curtain having a screen, which results in conforming to the shape
of the superstructure when the screen is in a raised position.
It is therefore seen that this invention will accomplish at least
all of its stated objectives.
* * * * *